Vector solver



May 31, 1949. J. J. REZA 2,471,450

VECTOR SOLVER Filed May 16, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

fiJUH/V J, REZF/ QW ATTORNEY Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30,1928; 370 O. G. 757) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a vector solver and mpreizparticularly to adevice for performing vectoriaraddition.

vector or a vectorial quantity may be defined a v a; quantity that hasboth magnitude and direction. Examples of such quantities are forces orvelocities. It frequently is necessary to add yectorially a plurality ofvectors and thus to obtain the magnitude and direction of the resultantvector.

It the principal object of the present inventiion to provide a devicethat enables a user to determine expeditiously and accurately themagndtude and direction of the resultant of a plurality 'of vectors orvectorial quantities.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for accomplishing theabove object in an economical, facile and efiicient manner.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vector solver embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the vector solver takensubstantially on the line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. .3- is a vertical sectional View of a detail of. the vector solvertaken substantially on the line 33,Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

The device of my invention com-prises a base plate I. Guide slots 2, 3,and 4 are cut into the upper face of the plate I. The guide slots arepreferably of inverted T-shaped cross section, Fig. 2. The plate I alsohas a central opening 5 that is substantially circular in configuration.An angular scale '6 is engraved or otherwise suitably marked on theplate I surrounding the opening 5.

A guided element 1 is provided and is adapted to be fitted within anyone of the slots 2, 3, or 4. The guided element I is preferably T-shapedin cross section, Fig. 2, to fit within the T-shaped slots 2, 3, or I.One or more screws 8 and 9 are threaded through the guided element I andbear against the upper face of the bottom of a slot 2, 3, or 4 to enablethe guided element I to be held in adjusted position in the slots.

An arm I 0 is pivoted to the guided element I by means of the screw II.The screw II may be tightened to hold the arm II) in angularly adjustedposition with respect to the guided element I.

The arm I 0 supports a linear scale member l2 which is longitudinallyslidable thereon. The arm Ill has a longitudinal slot I3 extendingsubstantially the length thereof. A bolt I4 extends through the slot I3and through an aperture in the member I2. A nut I5 on the bolt I4enables the member I2 to be held securely in longitudinally adjustedposition with respect to the arm I9. The member I2 has a pair of scalesI S-engraved or otherwise suitably marked thereon adjacent itslongitudinal edges. Preferably, the longitudinal edges are beveled sothat the scales H; are in close contact with the other scales.

Fitted within the circular opening 5 in the base plate I is asubstantially circular disc H, which is freely rotatable in the opening5. A plurality of linear scales I8 are engraved or otherwise suitablymarked on the upper face of the disc I! on radii of the disc. I preferto provide four such linear scales I8 on perpendicular diameters of thedisc H.

To facilitate rotation of the disc I1, I provide a series of fingergrips I9 in the upper face of the disc, preferably in locations in whichthey do not interfere with the scales I8.

In order to prevent undesired rotation of the disc IT, I provide aspring braking device 20 in the base plate I. The braking devicecomprises a plunger 2| and a spring 22. Normally the inner end of theplunger BI is held in contact with the side edge of the disc I! and thefriction therebetween prevents undesired rotation. When it is desired torotate the disc I1, the plunger 2I is held outwardly out of contact withthis disc, and the disc is then freely rotatable.

Operation When it is desired to add a plurality of vectorial quantitiesand thus to obtain the magnitude and direction of the resultant thereof,the process may be accomplished by use of my device in the followingmanner:

(a) The disc I1 is rotated until one of the scales is is aligned withthe angle indicated on the scale 6 that corresponds with the directionof the prime vector.

(b) The guided element 1 is inserted within the appropriate slot 2, 3,or 4. The guided element I is adjusted longitudinally of the slot andthe arm l0 and linear scale member I2 are pivoted about the screw IIuntil one of the edges of the member i2 passes through the center of thedisc I! and through the angle on the scale 6 corresponding with thedirection of the second vector. The screw I l is then tightened to holdthe arm I0 and member I2 in angularly adjusted position.

(c) The guided element 1 is adjusted within the slot 2, 3, or 4 and themember l? is adjusted longitudinally of the arm H] until the origin ofthe scale I6 is at the point on the scale it that corresponds with themagnitude of the prime vector, angular adjustment of the arm ill on theguided element 1 being kept constant.

((1) The disc ll is rotated until the point on the scale It representingthe magnitude of the second vector is crossed by one of the scales l8.

(6) The magnitude of the resultant of the two vectors is represented bythe distance on the scale is between the center point of the disc andthe point at which the scale l8 crosses the scale Hi. The direction ofthe resultant is the direction of the scale 58 as indicated on theangular scale 6.

It is apparent that through use of the device it is possible to add orsubtract any number of vectors in the manner described; that is, any twoof the vectors may be added or subtracted in the manner described andthe subsequent vectors may be added or subtracted to the resultantobtained in the first operation.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it is apparentthat the device is susceptible to modification without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited bythe disclosure set forth, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a base plate having at leastone slot and a substantially circular central opening in the upper facethereof and having an angular scale surrounding said central opening, asubstantially circular disc fitted into said opening and being freelyrotatable therein about the center of said angular scale and having atleast one radial linear scale on the upper face thereof, whereby saidlinear scale may be rotated to any desired angle with respect to saidangular scale, braking means to prevent undesired rotation of said disc,a guided element slidably mounted in said slot, an arm pivotally mountedon said guided element, and a member having a second linear scaleslidably mounted on said arm, whereby the origin of said second linearscale may be placed over any point on said first linear scale and at anydesired angle thereto.

2. In a device of the character described, a base plate having slots andan angular scale on its upper face, a substantially circular disc havingradial linear scales on the upper face thereof rotatably mounted on saidbase plate to pivot about the center of said angular scale, whereby anyone of said linear scales may be rotated to any desired angle withrespect to said angular scale, a guide slidably mounted in one of saidslots, an arm pivotally mounted on said guide, and a memher having asecond linear scale slidably mounted on said arm, whereby the origin ofsaid second linear scale may be placed over any point on said firstlinear scale and at any desired angle thereto.

3. In a device of the character described, a base plate having a pair ofspaced parallel slots and having a third slot crossing said parallelslots perpendicularly adjacent an end of each of said parallel slots soas to define a generally U-shaped design on said base plate, said baseplate having a substantially circular recess in the upper face thereofapproximately centrally located within said U-shaped design, an angularscale surrounding said central recess, a substantially circular discfitted into said recess and being freely rotatable therein about thecenter of said angular scale and having at least one radial linear scaleon the upper face thereof, whereby said linear scale may be rotated toany desired angle with respect to said angular scale, braking means toprevent undesired rotation of said disc, a guided element adapted to beslidably mounted in any one of said slots, an arm pivotally mounted onsaid guided element, and a member having a second linear scale slidablymounted on said arm, whereby the origin of said second linear scale maybe placed over any point on said first linear scale and at any desiredangle thereto.

JOHN J. REZA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Pile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 855,916 Werner June 4, 19071,290,343 Posner Jan. 7, 1919 1,296,704 Sayre Mar. 11, 1919 1,422,641Walters July 11, 1922

